REGULATION

Art.1 RidersIRON BIKE is a solo or two persons team race. Riders shall declare if they participate in team or individually at the time of registration, they can change from team to solo or vice-versa only until one week before the race, after that date no change can be made. IRON BIKE has to be considered a very demanding race inspired to the Paris-Dakar Rally. The minimum age to participate is 16 years (parents’ authorization required for the minors).Art.2 Image
Riders undertake not to show obscene, political and/or religious advertising or any other type of advertising that could be in conflict with the official race sponsors and/or with the organizers. Race leaders and winners of free entries to other races worldwide must wear the official IRONBIKE jersey during IRONBIKE or other races, upon request of the organizers. Riders accept to grant their permission to use their images taken during the event.Art.3 RequirementsRiders must have a UCI licence for Competitive Cycling valid at the time of the race.UCI licences category “Cycling for all” are not valid
Riders without valid licence can buy one the day of the sign-in issued by the Italian Sport Promotion Body ACSI Ciclismo, at a cost of 40,00 €. To get the licence, valid until Dec. 2018 they must present:
– a medical certificate issued by a sport doctor or sports medicine centres testifying they have been visited and declared able for competitive cycling
– Copy of ID card or passport.

Only mountain bikes in good working order will be allowed to start the race.
Bicycle parts can be replaced at any moments, the whole bicycle can be replaced in case of frame breaking after having given communication to the O.C.
Electric pedal assisted cycles are not allowed.Art.4 Stage Starts
Official stage start will be usually preceded by a briefing explaining all stage details. (see Art. 29).Art.5 Starting order
At the end of each stage a stage ranking and an overall ranking will be posted.
The starting order of the following stage will be the reverse of the overall ranking, unless communicated otherwise.Art.6 Special stages
Each stage can include one ore more special stages, which can be consecutive or separated by transfer road sections. Should a Special Stage be stopped for any reason whatsoever the following rule of the rally’s regulation shall apply: “when a Special Stage has to be stopped before all riders have completed it, for adverse weather conditions or following a decision of the Racing Officials (usually for safety reasons), the Stage ranking may be established by allocating to each rider who has been unable to complete the stage because of the interruption, the slowest time set (in his/her category) before the interruption. Should the race Officials consider the slowest time set as abnormal, they may choose as the scratch time the one among the four slowest which seems the most suitable. This ranking may be drawn up even if only one rider has been able to cover the stage in normal racing conditions.”
The race will start again in the first place that can be reasonably linked to the race course (bypass road).
When the Special Stage must be definitely stopped by the Race officials because of prior agreement taken with Local Authority Boards (particularly in foreign countries) the aforesaid rule must be accepted by the riders without any complaint whatsoever.Art.7 Feeding stations
One or more feeding stations are provided along the stages, to supplement the food taken by each rider according to his/her personal needs.Art.8 Checkpoints
On each stage there will be one or more checkpoints. Hidden checkpoints are not excluded. Riders who are not detected when passing one or more checkpoints or who come from the wrong direction will receive the highest penalty foreseen.Art.9 Safety provisions
Riders must wear a helmet during the entire race, they must also carry an emergency kit, which must include following mandatory items:(supplied or not by the Organizing Committee).
– Whistle,
– Aluminium survival blanket,
– Rain-proof, windbreaker jacket,
– Mobile phone,
– a lighting system by bike lamp or headlamp (when required by the Organizing Committee)
Riders must communicate their mobile phone number to the Organizing Committee the day of the sing-in, the mobile phone must be kept in a shock proof cover and must be carried all along the race, it must be used to call the IRONBIKE emergency line (tel. number on the roadbook) to immediately communicate race withdrawal or any accident noticed or to be contacted by the racing officials.
Should any rider or team fail to inform the race office of his/her/its withdrawal, and should a search and rescue operation be initiated for such rider or team, the cost of the search and rescue will be for the account of that rider or team.Search and rescue operations will be planned and carried out by the Organizing Committee according to the situation. In case of injury the rider shall be rescued with proper means and taken to the nearest hospital where any obligations by the Organizing Committee cease. In case of withdrawal the rider shall be sent to the nearest collection point and driven to the base camp. The recovery of the bike, if possible, and its transfer to the base camp shall be carried out with any means and with the greatest care, the Organizing Committee cannot be held responsible for any damages occurred. The recovered bike will only be returned to its owner.Each rider must pay a deposit of 100 € the day of the sign-in, that will be refunded at the end of the race or whenever the rider decides to abandon the race.The deposit WILL NOT BE REFUNDED IF:
1) the rider do not communicate to the racing officials in due time its withdrawal from the race;
2) the rider do not return the transponder consigned at the start.
The officials shall check the compulsory items at any time during the race.
Art.10 Accommodation
Riders are obliged to sleep at the base camp in a tent, in the open air or in makeshift accommodations. Accommodation in hotels or mobile homes or camper vans are in any case excluded and not allowed.Art. 11 Luggage
The organization grants the transfer of riders’ luggage (30 kilos max excluding tent and any prize won during the race) to the base camps during the whole race. Luggage handling will be done using utmost care, it can however not be held responsible for any damages occurred to fragile goods not properly packed and protected as well as for road or air transport of the riders’ bikes . Luggage shall be weighed the first day, exceeding luggage must be left in each own car. Riders must remove their tents and load them with their luggage on the luggage vehicle at least half an hour before the start of the first racer or when indicated by the Organizers during the stage briefing.
A reduced luggage (20 Kilos max = max 50 litres capacity = mountain rucksack) is required in high altitude camps, or where expressly indicated by the Organizers. This limit can be further reduced in case of extreme conditions.
Riders delivering late their luggage will incur in the same penalties foreseen for delays on the stage target time.
Art. 12 Riders obligations
Competitors and supporters are obliged to respect the environment. No littering or damage to the environment or any waste whatsoever (water bottles, packaging, bike spares, etc) left on the road and in the locations of the stages will be tolerated. Disposing of garbage of any kind will lead to disqualification. Riders are asked to follow the itinerary, to help other competitors, to inform the Organizer Committee using the cell phone in case of accident, to privilege sportsmanship and fairness, and to conform to any Organizing Committee’s decision.
Riders must observe at all times during the race all traffic regulations in force.Art. 13 Times
For each stage the starting time, the target time (theoretical riding time) and the maximum time (cut-off time) will be fixedArt.14 Penalties
Stage: 10 points for every minute of delay over the target time (theoretical riding time), i.e. the difference between the target time and the arrival recorded time.
Special stage: 1 point for every second of delay over the best special stage time.
10000 points will be charged for: skipping over one stage, not finishing a stage, exceeding the maximum time (cut-off time), failure to respect even one checkpoint, failure to wear the helmet, lack of compulsory equipment or equipment out of order, violation of the safety rules, showing up at the start later than half an hour after the starting time, in this case the rider could even not be allowed to start.
On departure from the base camp for a transfer section, the competitor may arrive later than his/her scheduled starting time (but not over half an hour later), while for the start of the Special Stage, he/she can start when he/she wishes, without any extra time added, but should the start from the base camp (or stage start) coincide with the start of the special stage the rider cannot use the above mentioned option and his/her Special Stage time will run as from the time of the official START (with the application of the penalties as foreseen for the Special Stages.)

Due to safety concerns or any other reason which the O.C. consider appropriate cut-off points which must be reached within specific times may be designated. Any riders which fail, or will in the sole opinion of the race organisers and commissaries be unable, to reach intermediate cut-off points will be prevented from continuing to ride, swept from the course and transported to the race finish.

In case of withdrawal riders must inform the O.C. IMMEDIATELY . In the event that only one team member withdraw for personal reasons, the other team member can decide to continue the race as solo with a penalty of 500 points. Tandem bikes will be considered as teams.
Art. 15 Finishers Riders who do not finish all stages within the maximum time and those who exceed 30000 (50000 for women) penalty points, even though they have finished all stages, will not be considered Ironbike Finishers (they will not therefore receive the finisher T-shirt). The penalty points given for having exceeded the maximum time take into account only delays over the target time.Art. 16 Prologue
The race will be preceded by a prologue which determines the first ranking and therefore the starting order of the first stage. The prologue must be considered as a stage, a coefficient can be applied and in case of equality in final results, the ranking of the prologue will be considered.Art.17 Coefficient
The O. C. has the right to modify the race course for any reasons and to insert coefficients – always previously declared and not applicable after – in order to multiply the penalties’ ratio.Art.18 Fairness
The O. C. undertakes to offer the bikers a situation of equality and to consider all of them on the same level, also from a psychological point of view, making all necessary actions in order to level privileges deriving from being familiar with the race’s route, from the nearness to the family, or the assistance from unauthorised persons or staff which is not part of the organisation, Biker’s personal assistance can assist only by the official assistance points indicated on the Road Book.Art. 19 Protests
Any protest including evidence of the same must be submitted in writing and signed to the race jury within within half an hour of posting of preliminary results for the relevant stage. A fixed deposit (Federal Committee € 50,00) must accompany any protest before the protest will be considered. If the protest is not upheld the deposit shall not be refunded. The name of the claimant shall or not be disclosed. Deposit can be returned only if the protest is upheld.Art.20 Registration
The O.C. reserves the right to refuse an entry without having to give reasons for such refusal.Art. 21 Prize-giving
The prize giving ceremony will take place in the afternoon of the last stage. The prizes can be cumulative and they will be exclusively handed to the winners personally. Prizes in categories will only be paid if there are at least 3 racers in the category, otherwise the racers will participate only to the overall ranking.
The free registrations to races or the travel gift vouchers given as prizes cannot be sold or offered to other persons or used on other dates.Art. 22 Supporters
Riders can benefit from personal assistance at the base camp or during the race by paying an entry fee of 250,00 € for a “Supporter” until June 30th, after that date the O.C. does not guarantee registration and price, especially for supporters driving big vehicles (such as motor homes).
Registered Supporters must drive their own car or vehicle (van, motorhome etc.), they will receive a bracelet and an identification decal for the vehicle that must be always visible. Supporters are entitled to:
transfer rider’s luggage, give them assistance at the base camp and on the race course only at the official refreshment points indicated on the road book.
They can sleep at the base camp and use all services and meals reserved to the riders.
If requested by the O.C. the supporter’s vehicle shall display the Ironbike logo as well as those of any sponsor or partner.
No outside assistance by non-registered persons is permitted under any circumstances.
Failure to comply to provision will lead to: verbal warning at the first reprimand, 5000 points of penalty at the 2nd and disqualification at the 3rd.Art. 23 AOB
The O. C. has the right to modify the present regulations at any time giving notice on the web site, to change the race course, the base camp locations as well as the number of stages. Any modification made during the race which becomes integral part of this regulation will be notified during the daily briefing.Art. 24 Cancellation Policy
Refund policy: 80% of the entry fee shall be refunded in case of withdrawal submitted within May 31st, 50% within June 30th no refund after that date. The date in which the withdrawal is submitted to the O.C. is considered valid for the refund. The refund policy is valid both for the bikers and for the accompanying persons.Art. 25 External services
The technical assistance and the massage service will be carried out by an Organization’s partner company according to common sales terms. Each competitor shall carefully check that any repairs or replacements are workmanlike performed. The Organisation cannot be held responsible for damages due to badly made repairs.Art. 26 References
For any subjects not considered in this regulation will be considered valid the regulation of the ACSI ciclismo Sport Promotion Board in force. In case of misunderstandings the Italian version prevails.Art. 27 Withdrawals during the race
Riders who decide to abandon the race or are disqualified having reached the max. penalties must give the bib number to the Race Director but are allowed to continue the race, follow it by their own car or with the supporter. They can use all services foreseen for the participants, except the time keeping. The emergency rescue cannot be guaranteed out of the race course or after the broom motorbike has passed. The competitor disqualified by the Panel of Stewards of the meeting for infringements will have to abandon the raid.Art. 28 Bib Number
Riders are obliged to display the original (unmodified, unfolded and without adding anything) bib number (the starting number is neither to be changed nor to be made smaller) and the other marks supplied by the organization, in particular the national flag. On the helmet the racer can add any other identification whatsoever, notwithstanding the provisions of Art. 2. Failure to comply to his Article will lead to: verbal warning at the first reprimand, 5000 points of penalty at the 2nd and disqualification abandoning the race at the 3rd.Art. 29 Briefing
The briefing before each stage will be translated in the most common languages, and will supply all necessary information to find the route and other key information such as difficulties etc regarding the stage itself, target times and maximum times will be also communicated at the briefing. Riders must therefore participate to the stage briefing (teams can be represented by only one member).
Encl. “J”
Normal luggage must weigh 30 kg tent excluded , except where the organizer otherwise provides.
A reduced luggage shall be required in high altitude camps: 50 lt capacity ( 20 kg ) rucksack, except where the organizer otherwise provides.
MANDATORY ITEMS to be carried along the race course
(they may be checked at any time during the race):
Rigid or suspension MTB
approved bicycling helmet
Whistle
Silver rescue blanket
Mobile phone
Dry waterproof or water resistant jacket
Lighting (flashlight or head lamp) (when required by the O.C.)
MANDATORY ITEMS FOR CAMPING (it may be checked):
Cutlery, tableware and glass
Sandals or soft shoes (for admittance in indoor areas in case of bad weather)